Microsporogenesis in inbred line of popcorn
(Zea mays L.)

¹Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
²Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
Corresponding author: M.S. Pagliarini
E-mail: mspagliarini@uem.br

ABSTRACT. Endogamy places genes for several characteristics in homozygosis, which include those related to meiosis causing abnormalities that may impair gamete viability. An original population (S₀) of popcorn (CMS-43) produced by Embrapa Maize and Sorghum was self-pollinated for seven years, generating inbred lines (S₁ to S7). Conventional studies of microsporogenesis revealed that meiotic abnormalities did not increase with endogamy. Univalent chromosomes, irregular chromosome segregation, abnormal cell shape, partial asynapsis, cell fusion, absence of cytokinesis, abnormal spindle orientation, and chromosome stickiness were recorded in low frequency in meiocytes. Since the frequency of abnormalities was low, mainly in S₇, inbred lines from CMS-43 have a high potential for hybridization.

Key words: Endogamy, Inbred lines, Microsporogenesis, Popcorn, Combining ability